In the half-century between his earliest recordings in the 1950s and his death in 2004, Ray Charles ascended to icon status by leaving his mark on virtually every form of American popular music that emerged in the latter half of the 20th century. Nowhere was this more evident than in his live performances, where one was likely to hear shades of blues, soul, R&B, jazz, gospel, country and more in a single evening – indeed, sometimes in a single song. To put it simply, the Right Reverend did it all.All of these subtle shades and styles are evident on Ray Charles Live In Concert. Originally released by ABC-Paramount in early 1965, Live In Concert captured Ray at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles in September 1964. “There could be no more uplifting live musical experience than digging Ray Charles and his mighty orchestra in their prime,” says roots music historian Bill Dahl. Indeed, the 15-piece orchestra backing Ray on this date – assembled just a few years earlier in 1961 – boasted no less than a dozen horns, including formidable saxophonists David “Fathead” Newman, Hank Crawford and Leroy “Hog” Cooper, all of whom had been with Ray since his days as a leader of smaller combos.A huge piece of the Ray Charles legacy is his mastery of any style he touched, and his ability to make it his own in a way that no other artist could – powers that can only come from an innate sense of adventure and spontaneity that are fully evident in Ray Charles Live In Concert.

A treasure trove of newly discovered recordings, highlighted by a duet with fellow icon Johnny Cash (“Why Me Lord?”), Rare Genius was released by Concord Records in April 2010 to celebrate Charles’ 80th birthday (he would have turned 80 on September 23, 2010.

Culled from four decades worth of demos and other previously unreleased material, Rare Genius showcases the remarkable artistic vision, stylistic range and emotionally rich vocals that crafted Charles enduring legacy. An essential insight into one of the 20th Century’s greatest musical icons.

The Ray Charles Story, Volume 4 is the fourth installment in a definitive collection showcasing Charles’ undeniable artistry and musicianship. One of Rolling Stones’s “100 Greatest Artists,” the album displays all of Charles’ biggest hits. The album includes standouts “Blackjack,” “A Bit Of Soul,” “Tell Me How Do You Feel” and “I Believe To My Soul.”

The Ray Charles Story, Volume 3 is the third installment in a definitive collection highlighting Charles’ remarkable genius and unparalleled musicianship. The multi-GRAMMY® winner has been dubbed one of music’s greatest artists by Rolling Stone. Included on the set were his hits, “That’s Enough,” “Tell The Truth,” and “It’s Alright.”

The Ray Charles Story, Volume 2 is the second installment in a pivotal collection showcasing the legend’s undeniable genius. Ranked among Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Artists of All Time,” Ray Charles was one of soul’s first pioneers. Included on this set were his breakthrough hits, “Swanee River Rock” “Night Time Is The Right Time,” “I’m Movin’ On” and “Let The Good Times Roll.”

The Ray Charles Story, Volume 1 is the first installment in a definitive collection highlighting Charles’ undeniable genius. The multi-GRAMMY® Award winner and one of Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Artists of All Time,” has had an luxurious career highlighted with countless chart-topping singles including “Mary Ann” and “A Fool for You,” both included on this breathtaking collection. A must have for any audiophile collection.

For the First Time – Digitally Released As High Resolution Downloads 192kHz/24bit Classic Jazz Titles from the Archives of Warner Bros Records, Reprise, Atlantic Records, and Rhino Records.

Yes Indeed! is a scintillating selection of hits that shaped the landscape of jazz, R&B, blues and rock. This revealing statement highlights all of Charles’ musical talents, from his stunning vocal range to his bluesy piano execution. As a singer and keyboardist, Charles is in top form. Standouts include the title track, which Charles pays tribute to big band innovator, Sy Oliver.

One of the best early-’60s examples of soul/jazz crossover, this record, like several of his dates from the period, featured big-band arrangements (played by the Count Basie band). This fared better than some of Charles’ similar outings, however, if only because it muted some of his straight pop aspirations in favor of some pretty mean and lean, cut-to-the-heart-of-the-matter B-3 Hammond organ licks. Most of the album is instrumental and swings pretty vivaciously, although Charles does take a couple of vocals with “I’m Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town” and “I’ve Got News for You.” Yet one of those instrumentals, a cover of the Clovers’ “One Mint Julep,” would give Charles one of his most unpredictable (and best) early-’60s hits. (more…)

The Genius of Ray Charles is a 1959 album by Ray Charles. In 2003, the album was ranked number 263 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. Some players from Ray Charles’ big band are joined by many ringers from the Count Basie and Duke Ellington bands for the first half of this program, featuring Charles belting out six songs arranged by Quincy Jones. “Let the Good Times Roll” and “Deed I Do” are highlights, and there are solos by tenorman David “Fathead” Newman, trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, and (on “Two Years of Torture”) tenor Paul Gonsalves. The remaining six numbers are ballads, with Charles backed by a string orchestra arranged by Ralph Burns. (more…)